In the first half of 2026, RCEP tariff reduction dividends were fully released, with more than 90% of aquatic products in China-Japan-Korea and ASEAN regions gradually achieving zero tariffs, and regional seafood trade volume increased by 22% year-on-year.

In March 2026, Brazil issued strict protection regulations for blue sharks, including banning targeted fishing, limiting by-catch ratio, prohibiting separate shark fin exports, and requiring compliance certificates for all shark products.

The domestic pre-cooked seafood industry maintained explosive growth in the first half of 2026. Driven by community group buying, new retail supermarkets and B-end catering channels, the sales volume of deep-processed seafood such as crayfish, Buddha jumps over the wall and prepared fish fillets increased by more than 30% year-on-year.

In May 2026, China launched the summer marine fishing moratorium in all coastal waters, banning offshore fishing operations for 3 to 4 months to restore declining marine fishery resources and eliminate extensive overfishing.

In June 2026, Malaysia temporarily banned the import of 5 types of farmed shrimp from Thailand in retaliation for Thailand’s import restrictions on Malaysian sea bass, escalating regional seafood trade frictions.